One last note: When I was growing up in Omaha, Nebraska during the 60s and 70s my parents, teachers and other grownups around me clucked their tongues in disbelief at George Wallace and those nasty racists down South who supported him. Imagine their surprise when our city, like several other cities in the North at the time, experienced race riots.
So dismiss me as over-the-top, if you like, along with anyone else who strays from the safe center of political discourse. But as long as some of our elected officials are more comfortable calling attention to the racism of politicians from other regions of the country, recently deceased or not, while ignoring institutional racism in Minneapolis, we may be in for another race riot this summer more devastating than last summer's.
Dennis Responds:
Emotions run high on this issue. Rightfully so... What are the responsibilities both socially and personally for us (privileged class) regarding our ancestors? Is there a need to bend over backwards and right the wrongs of our ancestors? Which is more inappropriate, our (the privileged class) inability to accept that the minorities in our country don't live exactly the way "we" do, or the minorities (non-privileged) inability to conform to the standards "we" set? I live in N MPLS, and am in a multi-racial marriage. I find (myself) judging others (minorities) with the feeling of inappropriate behavior on a continual basis. I wasn't raised "that" way. Yet, I also find myself questioning my ability to judge what IS appropriate. Why should I be the "definitive word" on what is and isn't appropriate? Yet, I also find myself unfairly discriminated against by minorities BECAUSE I'm from the privileged class. Do the ones (that discriminate against me) fairly represent the minorities? No they do not... Yet they help perpetuate the divisiveness that exists.
I watched the movie "Enemy of the State" last night (again) with my wife. One scene that left an impression on me was the one where the undercover, secret-ops agents square-off with the mafia in the restaurant. Both sides have their guns pointed at the other, waiting for someone to make a move, either dropping their weapons, or shooting. IMHO- It's the same type of stalemate we face in our society. When will BOTH sides start being more reasonable in their approach to solving the problems that exist?
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